Twomigrant field workers in California during the
Great Depression – GeorgeMilton, an intelligent and
cynical man; and Lennie Small, an ironically namedman of large stature and immense strength but
limited mental abilities – cometo a ranch
near Soledad southeast of Salinas, California to "work up astake". They hope to one day attain their shared
dream of settling down ontheir own piece of land. Lennie's
part of the dream, which he never tires ofhearing George
describe, is merely to tend to soft rabbits on thefarm.

George
protects Lennie by telling him that if
Lenniegets into trouble George won't let him "tend
them rabbits"; they arefleeing from
their previous employment where they were run out of townafter Lennie's love of stroking soft things
resulted in an accusation ofattempted rape when he touched a
young woman's dress.

Atthe ranch, the dream appears to move closer to
reality. Candy, the aged,one-handed ranch-hand, even
offers to pitch in with Lennie and George so theycan buy the farm by the end of the month. The
dream crashes when Lennieaccidentally kills the young and
attractive wife of Curley, the ranch owner'sson, while
trying to stroke her hair. A lynch mob led by Curley
gathers.

George,
realizing he is doomed to a life of loneliness and despair like
therest of the migrant workers, and wanting to
spare Lennie a painful death at thehands of the
vengeful and violent Curley, shoots Lennie in the back of the
headbefore the mob can find him after they had
recited their dreams of owning theirown
land.